No More Learning

especially for the layer just below the
METEOROLOGY.
stratosphere, which, it is thought, must NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
DURING recent years meteorologists have be regarded as controlling the conditions
[Notice in these columns doos not proclade longer
devoted much attention to the study of throughout the atmosphere beneath. The roviow. )
the upper atmosphere by means of kites book is, well illustrated by forty-seven
Davenport (C. B. ), HEREDITY IN RELATION
and balloons, either carrying small self- figures in the text, and a series of dia-
To EUGENICS. Williams & Norgate
recording instruments, or simply used for grams, placed at the end, giving the
results of a selection of the balloon ascents,
A book founded on data collected in
the purpose of observing the direction
America. It goes further, we think, than the
and velocity of air-currents at different confronted with the pressure distribution
present knowledge of the science warrants.
heights above the surface of the earth. and the wind at the surface at about the
The recent rise of aviation has given an
time of each ascent.
Gladstone (Hugh S. ), A CATALOGUE OF THE
VERTEBRATE FAUNA DUMFRIES-
additional impetus. to such studies, and
Prof. Milham's is a closely printed
Dumfries, Maxwell
makes it more than ever necessary that
As lucid and careful a catalogue as it has
our knowledge in this direction should be and profusely illustrated volume, which
been our pleasure to meet with for some time.
placed on a firmer basis. The discovery of deals, in some cases in great detail, with
Mr. Gladstone contributes a charming and
the isothermal layer or stratosphere, as under the term Meteorology. The work natural features, climate, and congenial
of now
informative Introduction, summarizing the
it is now called, lends a further interest to
such researches. It is situated (in middle reader will notice, here and there, indica- incidentally protesting against the ruthless
,
habitat of the fauna of Dumfriesshire, and
latitudes) at a height of 9 or 10 kilometres, tions of the professorial manner that tends slaughter of such valuable and beautiful
up to which the temperature falls more
or less regularly, but after this height is to supply the answers to examination rarities as buzzards, kestrels, and the like.
Extinct animals are printed in Old English
reached remains nearly constant as far questions rather than to draw the student's
attention to general principles. But, in and comprehensive description. There is a
type. To each species is appended a succinct
upwards as exploration has extended.
At the suggestion of Dr. W. n. spite of this, a great amount of indispen- detailed map at the end of the book.
Shaw, the Director of the Meteorological logist, and especially for the young Guppy (H. B. ), STUDIES IN SEEDS AND
:
investigations on air-currents, the results American meteorologist, will be found
Such
BALANCE, 15/ net.
of which he has now published in an presented in a judicious manner.
Williams & Norgate
attractive volume.
careless statements as that the amount
The observations here
of land “at the North Pole is much there is ample room for new work. The
An important work on a subject in which
recorded and discussed were mostly made
at Ditcham in Hampshire, and consist in greater than that “at” the South author has drawn largely on his investigations
the determination by theodolite of the omission, however, occurs in the descrip- shrinking and swelling processes of seeds;
Pole are fortunately few. A serious of West Indian plants. Ho discusses the
positions of free balloons at definite
intervals from the time of their release tion of meteorological instruments, no
until they become lost to view. The reference being made to the method of their hygroscopicity, the dehiscence of fruits,
balloons were set free generally a little photographic registration of barometer and various questions of weight and pro-
and thermometer readings. Photography | elaborate index.
portion. There are several tables and an
before sunset, and in clear weather,
these conditions being favourable for has proved an efficient handmaid to many
prolonged observation of their move-
Hübner (Julius), BLEACHING AND DYEING
branches of applied science, but in no
case has it been more useful than in
ments. The reduction of the observations
VEGETABLE FIBROUS MATERIALS,
with Introduction by Raphael
a laborious work entailing much tedious providing an easy and certain method for
Constable
Meldola, 14/ net.
calculation
the continuous record of the readings of
- gives the horizontal tra-
A careful and thorough study of the
jectory of the balloon, from which the the chief meteorological instruments.
direction and velocity of the wind at turn to the chapter on Weather Predic- and judgment to combine in his book the
But the general roader will probably complex and shifting subject of tinctorial
different heights are obtained. The com-
plete determination of consecutive posi- esting in the book. The dweller on this publications outlining new discoveries. com
tions' as being, to him, the most inter- essence of the standard works and technical
tions of a balloon entails the use of two side of the Atlantic will
, perhaps, be a sequently, it should be of general utility to
theodolites, placed at opposite ends of an little disappointed to find that, in a large bleachers and dyers Accessories, such as
to consider that observations made with measure, the subject is dealt with as sub- diagrams, index, and the like, are satis-
A drawback is the
one theodolite give nearly, if not quite, Weather Bureau. The author emphasizes
ordinate to the operations of the U. S. factorily, complete.
weight of the publication.
as accurate results as can be obtained by the fact that there is no royal road to Hutchinson’s Popular Botany, Part III. ,
the more laborious method. This is con-
7d, net.
trary to the general opinion of meteoro becoming a skilful forecaster practice is
the essential thing. Further, as the
logists, and it is to be regretted that Mr. local conditions in the United States and readable, and abounds in attractive illus-
Like the previous parts, this one is very
Cave has made extensive use of the less
trations.
complete method of observation. The Great Britain are so different, the details
heights reached by the balloons varied in one case are inapplicable in the other. Kerr (J. Graham), ZOOLOGY, 1/ net.
considerably. In one case 18 kilometres The statement is usually made (the author
A detailed account of the amoeba, hydra,
was recorded, but in many cases 5 kilo- says that the accuracy attained by the and earthworm precedes and explains the
official forecasters of the U. S. Weather system of grouping of animals.
The author
metres was the highest point reached.
Altogether, 200 ascents of free
Bureau is between 80 and 85 per cent, has given a concise but lucid statement of
balloons are discussed in this volume, and and it would be interesting to know if the principle of evolution. The diagrams
U. S. forecasts leave as much scope for
are clear and true to nature. One of Dent's
the author has been able to differentiate
Scientific Primers,
types of structure in the air-currents
variation as many of our own do. Prof.
revealed by the observations that are of Milham is unsparing in his denunciation Stewart (A. M. ), BRITISH BUTTERFLIES, 1/6
of what he calls “ long-range " weather
A. & C. Black
considerable interest and importance,
predictions, and pertinently remarks :- As an aid to the young entomologist this
The Structure of the Atmosphere in Clear
textbook will prove extremely useful. The
They are no better than mere guesses, author advises the Paisley method of
Weather : a Study of Soundings with and it should be remembered that å mere setting as being quicker and more certain
Pilot Balloons. By C. J. P. Cave. (Cam- guess should be correct half the time, so
bridge University Press. )
than the normal process, and his instructions
that there should be no surprise at some are clear, and, with the help of the illustra-
Meteorology: a Textbook on the Weather, chance verifications. "
tions, will be easily followed by the careful
the Causes of its Changes, and Weather
student. It is not a book to inspire enthu-
Forecasting for the Student and General But the imperfectly trained mind, we siasm, but to train it; and the coloured
Reader. By Willis Isbister Milham. (New fear, hankers after such predictions, and plates and the photographs are excellent and
York, the Macmillan Company. )
the supply follows the demand.
helpful.
OF
an
net.
66


## p. 570 (#430) ############################################

570
No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
nean
existed between the amplitude of the daily on record Lord Headley's statement that it was
SOCIETIES.
range of the magnetic elements and the sunspot quite common on the island, no fewer than
Royal. —Hay 2. —Sir Archibald Geikie, Presi- / viously. The object of the present research was
area, not on the same day, but several days pre- eleven having been trapped, while others had
been seen ; and that it did not occur, so far as
dent, in the chair.
to inquire into the reality of this connexion. A was known, on the mainland. Typically coloured
Dr. Marie C. Stopes read a paper on ‘Petri; selection was made of the 5 days of each month brown rats lived on the island as well.
factions of the Earliest European Angiosperms.
of the 11 years 1890 to 1900 which had the largest Mr. D. Seth-Smith exhibited two horn-like
The paper gave an account of the anatomy and sunspot areas as given by the Greenwich annual sheaths which had been shed from the orange-
the geological bearing of three new petrified | lists. Mean values of the sunspot areas were coloured patch at the base of the lower mandible
angiospermic stems. These three fossils are all
derived for the 650 days thus selected (two of the king penguin (Aplenodytes pennanti) living in
in the British Museum collections. Their age
months were omitted as having less than 5 days the Society's Gardens. Mr. W. E. de Winton had
appears undoubtedly to be Lower Greensand showing any sunspots) and for 30 other groups of observed the shedding of this epidermal sheath
(Aptian), and they are consequently the earliest days of the same number, corresponding to the in a bird living in the Gardens in 1898 (P. Z. s. ,
angiosperms of which the internal anatomy is
15 days immediately preceding and the 15 days 1898, p. 900); but although the present specimen
known. They are also of interest as coming immediately succeeding each of the 650 selected had been carefully watched during two successive
from Northern Europe at a time when angiosperms days. In this way one
got 31 representative moults in March and October, 1911 (P. Z. S. ,
1912,
have hitherto been supposed not to have pene successive days, of which the central day had P. 60), no sign of this process was observed. The
trated to that region. The three specimens about twice as large a sunspot area as the average. bird, "however, went through another complete
differ so considerably in their structure that it The sunspot area rapidly and regularly declined on moult in March to April of the present year,
seems justifiable to place them in three distinct either side of the central day to an almost dead and shortly after this was completed the epidermal
new genera.
level, thus giving a very prominent “pulse” of covering of these orange-coloured patches became
Dr. F. Keeble and Dr. E. F. Armstrong read
sunspot area. The Kew daily horizontal force loose and finally, fell off ; the pieces somewhat
a paper on The Distribution of Oxydases in the
ranges were got out for the 650 representative resembled the wing-cases of a large boetle, being
Plant and their Role in the Formation of Pig; days of large sunspot area, and the allied 19,500 semi-transparent and of a clear orango colour.
ment. ' The methods of investigation in general days, and mean values obtained again for the Dr. Francis Ward showed a number of photo-
use do not admit of the determination in detail
31 representative days. These
values graphs and diagrams illustrating a method of
of the distribution of oxydases in the tissues of
gave a marked pulse, corresponding to the sun- observation of fishes, birds, and mammals under
plants and animals. Hence the hypothesis that spot area pulse, but with its crest about 4 days the water, the principle being that the subjects
pigments are produced
by the action of oxydases later. They
gave also a minor or secondary under consideration were illuminated by natural
in colourless chromogens, though rendered pro- pulse about 15 days prior to the principal pulse. light, and the observer, being in a dark chamber
bable by recent researches, cannot be regarded as
Several attempts were made to arrive at the in the water, was not seen. The appearance of
established. Methods are here described which
cause of the secondary pulse. It was found to be black-feathered birds was shown; these by
allow of the macroscopic and microscopic recog. largely a disturbance effect.
carrying down air-bubbles among the feathers
nition of plant oxydases, and these methods
Sir Walter Noel Hartley and Mr. Henry Webster were converted into reflectors; and a water-hen
appear to be capable of wide application in the
Moss read a paper · On the Ultimate Lines, and was shown bright red, and then green, as it re-
study of the distribution of oxydases.
the Quantities of the Elements producing those flected the different surroundings in which it bad
Dr. B. R. G. Russell read a paper on · The Lines, in Spectra of the Oxyhydrogen Flame and been
placed. Otters and seals were also shown
Manifestation of Active Resistance to the Growth
Spark,'— Messrs. E. Marsden and 0. G. Darwin as seen under the water. The demonstration was
of Implanted Cancer. (1) The reaction which is
read a paper on
The Transformations of the illustrated by numerous slides and by the cine-
evoked by the implantation of transplantable Active Deposit of Thorium, —and Mr. W. Wilson matograph.
tumours of the rodent varies widely with different
read a paper 'On the B-Particles reflected by Mr. G. A. Boulenger presented a paper on a
tumour-strains. The reaction has been deter-
Sheets of Matter of Different Thicknesses. '
collection of fishes made by Mr. A. Blayney
mined by exercising all the growths in a series of
Percival in British East Africa to the east of
animals on a given day, and then testing the
Lake Baringo. This collection was of special
suitability of the animals for the growth of a
importance as coming from a district the fishes
tumour-strain growing in 90 to 100 per cent of SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. —May 9. -Dr. C. H. of which had not been collected before, and
normal animals. Some strains do not affect Read, President, in the chair. -Mr. Reginald contained examples of five new species.
the natural suitability of the animals, others Smith read a paper on The Date of Grime's Dr. F. E. Beddard gave an account of his paper
render every animal resistant to re-inoculation, Graves and Cissbury Flint Mines. Worked on a new genus of the Cestoidea, founded on some
and the remaining strains occupy intermediate Aints from
these two well-known sites have long specimens of tapeworms which he had discovered
positions. (2) The individuality of the animal
been considered typical of an early Neolithic in the small intestine of an example of the Tas-
inoculated may contribute to the development stage, before polishing had become common. manian devil (DasyurUS ursinus). In briefly
of the resistance, although not to so marked a
Ancient mines at Cissbury Camp were explored describing the most salient points of anatomical
degree as the tumour parenchyma. (3) Simul-
between 1867 and 1875, and proved to be earlier interest in this, which formed the type of a
taneous inoculation of a tumour-strain which
than the earthwork ; they yielded no arrow-heads, new family, he remarked that, in view of the very
induces no resistance, and a strain which induces
and one polished fragment quite near the surface. considerable peculiarities of structure observed,
resistance, may be followed by marked inhibition
Of the 254 similar pits near. Weeting, Norfolk, it was remarkable that the generative organs
of the growth of the former strain. (4) Mice
Canon Greenwell opened one in 1870, and found did not show any marked features of interest as
bearing progressively growing tumours can be
besides chipped fint tools a polished basalt celt compared with those of other tapeworms.
rendered resistant to re-inoculation, but the
and many picks of red-deer antler, of which very Mr. R. E. Turner communicated & memoir
tumour first inoculated need not necessarily few were found at Cissbury. Certain finds in entitled - Studies in the Fossorial Wasps of the
be affected. (5) Repeated inoculation of tissues,
stratified deposits both here and abroad serve Family Scoliidæ, Subfamilies Elidina and Antho-
such as mouse embryo-skin, which renders animals
to link the typical Cissbury celt with the late boscinæ. ' Several new species of Elidinæ from
resistant to subsequent inoculation, has not river-gravel forms; and analogies between
other South Africa were mentioned, including a new
been shown to have a constant effect upon the types and those found in French caves suggest genus in which the female was wingless; and the
growth of established tumours. (6) The con-
genus Anthobosca was described. The geo-
clusions drawn in (4) and (5) support the view placing the Cissbury group in the Aurignac division
of the Palæolithic Cave Period, which, at any rate graphical distribution of Anthobosca, which
previously, expressed that immunity to cancer
abroad, was followed by a deposit of Loess. was almost entirely confined to the Southern
is directed mainly against the stroma-eliciting Recent finds in France show that "* domesticated " Hemisphere, was discussed, and the conclusion
properties of the cancer cells.
animals existed at the period ; and the absence was reached that the distribution was due to
Dr. Wm. H. Woglom read a paper on 'The of cold-loving animals such as the mammoth, survival from a wider range in the past, and not
Nature of the Immune Reaction to Transplanted woolly rhinoceros, and reindeer may perhaps to a Southern origin.
Cancer in the Rat. ' The paper discussed the
be accounted for by the Gulf Stream ; but these
reactions to tumour grafts displayed by normal | animals are also unrepresented on several im-
rats and by those rendered resistant through pre- portant French sites. The polished basalt celt
liminary treatment with tumour or embryo-skin: has lately been proved to be at least as ancient
MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.
The elaboration of a stroma and the provision of
as the oldest kitchen-middens of Scandinavia,
blood-vessels observed in normal rats are absent
and polished bone tools are common in the Cave
Mox. Goographical, 3. -Annual Meeting.
in refractory animals, irrespective of the method | Period. Pottery has been found in certain
Society of Arts, 8. - Beavy Oil Enginos,' Lecture IV. ,
Capt. E. R. Bankey. (Howard Lectures. )
of immunization.
French Palæolithic cave-deposits, and is abundant
Institute of British Architects, 8. 30. – Recent University
Mr. T. Graham Brown and Dr. C. S. Sherring; in caves of the Aurignac period in Belgium.
Architecture in the United states,' Mr. R. A. Cram.
TUES. Royal Institution, 3. The study of Gopetica. Lecture II. ,
ton read a paper on the Instability of a Cortical
If the above view can be maintained, there
Point. ' The reflex reactions obtainable from
can be no hiatus question, the Cissbury types
-
Asiatic, 4. --Annual Meeting.
simple spinal preparations, even when elicited amply demonstrating a gradual evolution from
Society of Arts, 4. 30. - Australian Rallvas. Mr. J. G.
from one and the same receptive “locus,” are
the hand-axe of the river-gravels to the com-
Statistical, 6. - Railway Accounts and Statistics,' Megtrs.
subject to a certain amount of variability. The pletely polished celt; and finds such as the
Anthropological Institute, 8. 18. - Demonstration of Maori
variability is somewhat greater when preparations Cushendall factory, co. Antrim, would prove
which decerebrate are employed. With
Zoological, 8. 30. - The Local Races of Burchell's Zebra,'
that Ireland was also inhabited in the later
Major J. 8. Hamilton: Op Two New Larnal Trematodes
loci in the motor region of the cerebral cortex the
Palæolithic period.
from the Striped Snake, Dr. W. Nicoll; On Dipteropeltis,
variability is greater still. The experiments
a New Genus of the Crustacean Order Branchiura, Dr.
W. T.
reported in this paper were undertaken to ex-
Specimens illustrating the paper were exhibited
Calman; and other papers.
amine the nature and extent of the variability Boyd Dawkins, Dewey, Fox, Newton, Powell,
WED. Meteorological, 1. 30. – The Thunderstorm of March 11th, 1912,
by Brighton Museum, and Messrs. Cocks, Dale,
in Hampshire and Sussex,' Mr. C. J. P. Cave; The Auto-
of response observable in the reactions from one
matic Release of Boll-Recording Instrumenu trom Ballons-
and the same locus in the motor cerebral cortex.
Relph, Garraway Rice, and Wilsher.
British Numismatic, &. - Bome Additions to and Deletions
Dr. J. W. W. Stephens and Dr. H. B. Fantham
trom Atkins's "Coing and Tokens of the British Possessions
read a paper on The Measurement of Trypano-
Turs. Royal Institution, 3. -Ice Formation in Canada : II. The
8oma rhodesiense. '
ZOOLOGICAL. —May 7. -Prof. E. A. Minchin,
V. -P. , in the chair. -Mr. R. I. Pocock exhibited
Royal, 4. 30. Theory of a New Mechanism for marving the
Volume of Discharge in the Rotating Slider Crank Form in
May 9. - Sir Archibald Geikie, President, in a skin and a living specimen of a fawn variety of
the Chamber Crank Chain of Rouleaux, Mr. 8. 8. Hele
the chair. -Mr. A. Vernon Harcourt read a paper the brown rat (Epimys norvegicus) which had
Shaw: 'A New Treatment of Optical Aberrations, Prof.
R. A. Sampaon; "On the Extinction of Light by an
On the Variation with Temperature of the Rate been caught on an island in the middle of Lough
Illuminated Retina Bir W. de W. Annoy: Optical
of a Chemical Change. '—Dr. C. Chree read a Corrib, co. Galway, and presented to the Society
Measurements at High Pressures,' Mr. w. Wahl; and other
paper on Some Phenomena of Sunspots and of by Lord Headley. Mr. Pocock remarked that Society of Antiquaries, 8 30.
Terrestrial Magnetism at Kew Observatory. ' although similarly coloured varieties of this rat
Linnean, 3. - Annual Meeting.
An investigation made some years ago by the had been caught now and again in different parts
Royal Institution, g. - Recent Advances in Agriculturai
author indicated the probability that a relation of England, it was especially interesting to put
Science: the Fertility of the soil, Mr. A. D. Hall.
Royal Institution, 3. - Interpretation in Song: (3) Songo
and their Classification,' Mr. 4. Plunket Groene.
6
-
6
Prof. W. Bateson.
Jenkins. (Colonial Section. )
W. M. Acworth and G. Paish.
-
Skulls. ' Dr. R. J. Gladstone.
--
are

Sondes, Mr. K. 8. Bruce.
and Colonies," Mr. J. B. Caldecott.
Economic Aspect, Prof. H. T. Barnes.
papers.
PRI.
BAT.


## p. 571 (#431) ############################################

No. 4412, May 18, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
571
THE excessive temperature of 82°. 6 in The state of culture in Colombia when
Science Gossip.
the shade at Greenwich, on Saturday last, the Spaniards arrived there presented
was the highest reading on record for some striking contrasts : people who wore
MR. A. F. R. WOLLASTON'S account of the that particular calendar date, though there
a minimum of clothing and practised
expedition of the British Ornithologists'
Union to Dutch New Guinea in 1910-11 earlier in the year. It is seldom, however, cannibalism, and others who lived under
will be published by Messrs. Smith & Elder that the shaded thermometer stands as high a progressive political system and exer-
on the 31st inst. , with illustrations and as 80° in the first half of May. In 1868 the cised various handicrafts. Of these the
maps, under the title 'Pygmies and Papuans:maximum temperature was 820. 3 on May 3rd; most interesting is the working of gold,
the Stone Age To-day in Dutch New Guinea. ' in 1867 it was above 83° on May 6th and 7th; great numbers of ornaments and vessels of
The book deals with a hitherto unknown and in 1848 the thermometer stood above that metal having been found. In pottery
part of one of the least-known countries 80° on the three days May 13th, 14th, and they did not know the use of the wheel.
in the world. The Pygmy natives of New
Guinea discovered by the expedition are of temperature as high as 80° in the first They were fond of ornament representing
here described for the first time. The fortnight of May from 1841 to 1905. more or less conventional types of human
book also contains some account of the
faces.
other living creatures of the country.
Incidentally to Ecuador, Mr. Joyce
ELECTRICITY has been successfully applied
FINE ARTS
suggests, as an explanation of the tradi-
to prevent the destruction of fruit blossoms
tion that the reigns of the ante-Incan
by night frosts. In California a thermometer
rulers were short, the belief that as they
is installed in the orchards which, by means
of a platinum connexion, rings a bell in the South American Archæology: an Intro- soul of the community was incorporated,
were divine persons, in whom the collective
farmer's bedroom when the temperature duction to the Archæology of the South it was necessary in the interests of the
falls beyond the danger point. He can American Continent, with Special Refer- general prosperity to remove them as soon
then, by pressing a button, set light to pre- ence to the Early History of Peru. By as they showed signs of age, so that that
viously arranged fires between the trees,
which by the heavy smoke they diffuse
Thomas A. Joyce. (Macmillan & Co. )
soul might always be incorporated in a
among the branches protect the blossom This publication is timely from two points body possessing the full vigour of youth.
against the risk of frost until the sun begins of view. The meeting in London, on the One ruler of a still earlier dynasty was
to gain power.
27th of the present month, of the Con- supposed to have ascended to heaven with
SIR WILLIAN CROOKES has found that the
metals of the platinum group are not, as
gress of Americanists will draw attention wings; and another retired and starved
was supposed, absolutely resistant to heat to the subject, and many will desire to himself to death in secret that the people
at temperatures lower than their melting have such a general exposition as Mr. might believe in his immortality. Mr.
point of 2,300° to 2,400° C. While platinum Joyce offers. The progress of recent dis- Joyce refers to the ante-Incan period the
itself at 900° remains unchanged, at 1,300° it covery in many directions, the growth of heavy stone chairs supported on a crouch-
volatilizes and deposits crystals of metal, collections of South American objects in ing human or animal figure, of which
which, Sir William states, are due to a true the museums of Europe and America, nearly all the great museums of Europe
sublimation. Palladium is three times as
and the valuable historical and archæo have specimens, and the stone slabs
volatile as platinum ; iridium oxidizes, and
conventionalized human
is therefore partly volatile, at 1,000° ; ruthe- logical works which have recently thrown carved with
zium. loses 25 per cent of its weight at light on many complicated questions, figures found in Manabi, on the coast,
1,300°; and rhodium alone resists at the same justify the issue of a book in which these the traditional scene of the immigration.
temperature.